Male Celiac Sufferers - Dealing With Iron Deficiency

[Keshavdas]

One of my doctors confirmed that I have iron deficiency but gave very little in the way of constructive advice. Instinct tells me with a damaged gut - diet alone won't be sufficient to fix the problem. There are iron supplements around that are gentle and don't constipate but I keep hearing warnings about iron supplements being a big no no for males. I am currently taking Floradix, a German formulated supplement that my acupuncturist takes herself for Iron deficiency and my energy does seem better and heart palpitations are pretty much non-existent after about a week of taking this stuff. I also found out it come in a totally gluten free version called Floravital - which I will have to look for.

Interestingly - I found out that the blood pressure med Lotensin (Benazapril) which I've taken for twenty years is known to cause iron deficiency as well. Fortunately through diet and excercise I've been able to reduce my need for the med to only a quarter of a pill - which was a very low dose to begin with.

Anyhoo.. I'm interested in feedback from men who have found safe, effective treatments for iron deficiency.

[LauraB0927]

Well I'm a female, but I battled with anemia for years before my diagnosis. Iron pills weren't helping one bit, and now we know its because I couldnt absorb them. The anemia got so bad for me at one point that I developed Pica and only ate ice for an entire summer before my mom dragged me to the doctor because she was getting scared. They hooked me up to an IV and gave me an iron infusion which immediately helped and kept my iron levels up for several years before they dropped again. Could getting an iron infusion be an option for you?

[rosetapper23]

Floravital (gluten-free) is great, so if it does the trick, I'd stick with it.